Easy opening container



July 13, 1937. w. E. TAYLOR EASY OPENING CONTAINER Filed Aug. 11, 1933INVENTOR Patented July 13, 1937 UNITED STATES 2,086,586 EAsY OPENINGCONTAINER William E. Taylor, East Orange, N. .L. assignor to AmericanCan Company. New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationAugust 11, 1933, Serial No. 684,734

4 Claims. (01. 229-51) The present invention relates to fibre containershaving metal cover members and has more particular reference to improvedclosures therefor in which are embodied certain elements to effect easyopening of the containers.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a retainingring or wire for a fibre container which is sealed or closed with acover member, the retaining ring being partially embedded into the bodywall of the container and which, when removed to open the container,leaves the cover member free for removal and for subsequent frictionalengagement as a reclosure.

A further important object of the invention is 4 the provision of acontainer closure of the character described in which the retaining ringis pressed into the fibre body wall during the application of the covermember to efiect a closure and which unbends portions of the covermemher during the opening of the container so that the cover is freedfrom the ring as well as from the body and in such reshaped form isadapted for frictional engagement as a reclosure.

.Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container embodying the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation, partly broken away, of theupper part of the container illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 33 in Fig. 1, and illustrating the sealed containerparts; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating a step in the removal ofthe retaining ring and in the opening of the container.

The present invention is particularly directed to an improved closurefor a fibre container having a metal cover member and a retaining ringwhich has a dual function of assisting in forming a closure for thecontainer and in reshaping certain parts 'of the closing elements in theopening of the container to permit its initial opening and'twpermitsubsequent reclosing thereof.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention the drawing discloses afibre container body having a bottom end l2 secured thereto in anysuitable manner as by a crimped or other kind 55 of seam. The upper endof the fibre body (Figs. 3 and4) is practically straight without anyprojecting parts.

A metal cover member I4 is provided, having a cylindrical vertical walli5 adapted to frictionally engage within the top or open end of the bodyII. This inner wall |5 is bent outwardly at its top into an annularcurled rim l6 which is semi-circular in cross section. This rim mergesinto a downwardly extending wall I! substantially parallel to the walll5 which terminates in a flange l8.

A retaining ring or wire 2|, preferably of circular cross section, isused as one element in the container closure and at the same timeprovides an opening device for breaking the closure seal when thecontainer is opened. This ring encircles the can body adjacent its topand is adapted to be partially enclosed within the flange I8 of thecover member l4 when the latter is positioned on the body and the partsare brought into the .closed position illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Such closing of the container is effected in any suitable manner bymeans of which the cover flange I1 is crimped or otherwise forcedinwardly against the ring 2| so that the latter is pressed into the wallof the fibre body I, making its own seat 22. ,This forms a curledflanged section 23 I and seals the container.

ring in an inclined section 25. This handlepart projects below theopposite end 28 of the ring (Fig. 2) and extends entirely free of theenclosed sealing flange parts 23.

When the container is to be opened the handle part 24 of the retainingring 2| is forced downwardly to the position indicated by dotted linesin Fig. 2, the rest of the wire ring moving downward and away from thecover flange. In this movement the edge 23 of the cover flange is bentoutwardly (as shown in Fig. 4) as the ring 2| rides out of its seat 22and presses against the flange edge. This edge springs back a shortdistance as shown in this figure but is clear of the ring and clear alsoof the body wall.

The cover member I4 is now free to be lifted off of the container bodyAfter the container has thus been opened the cover may again be reseatedas a reclosure, the walls I5, ll of the cover giving sufficient fit onthe body to form a removable closure. The retaining ring 2| is discardedas no longer necessary.

His thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages willbe understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparentthat various-changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material ad vantages, theformhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim: v

1. A container, comprising a tubular fibre body having a straightuncurled upper edge, a metal retaining ring adapted to be positioned onsaid body below its said upper edge and embedded by its own pressureinto the otherwise straight wall of the body, and a metal cover 'memberhaving an'inner supporting wall extending downwardly withinsaidcontainer sufliciently to withstand the pressure exerted by said ringagainst the'container body, said cover member having an outwardly anddownwardly extending flange enclosing said body edge and partiallyenclosing said retaining ring and being clamped against said ringsufliciently tight to cause the ring to form a seat within the body wallwhereby to eflect a closure for said container, said retaining ringbeing also adapted upon removal from its embedded and enclosed positionwithin the body wall ,to-be forced outward by the lower part of saidseat and outwardly bend said metal cover flange to free said ring andpermit unre-v stricted removal of said cover member from said body.

2. A container, comprising a tubular fibre body of uniform cylindricalcontour having a straight. uncurled upper edge, a metal retaining ringadapted to be positioned on said body below its said upper edge, and ametal cover member having-a supporting wall within the end of said bodyextending down to opposite said ring, said cover member haying anoutwardly and downwardly extending flange enclosing said body edge aria.partially enclosing said retaining ringand being clamped against saidring sufilciently tight to press the latter into said body wall againstthe resistance afforded by said supportirig wall, whereby to efiect aclosure for said body.

tween the same and the cover member.

3. A container, comprising a tubular fibre body of uniform cylindricalcontour having a straight uncurled upper edge, a metal retaining ringadapted to be positioned on said body below itssaid upper edge, and ametal cover member having a supporting wall within the end of said bodyextending down to opposite said ring, said cover member having anoutwardly and downwardly extending flange enclosing said body edge andpartially enclosing said. retaining ring and being clamped against saidring sufiiciently tight to press the latter into said body wall againstthe resistance afiorded by said supporting wall to prevent relativemovement therebetween, said retaining ring being also adapted uponremoval from its embedded and enclosed position to outwardly bend saidmetal cover flange to free said ring and permit unrestricted removal ofsaid cover member from said body.

4. A container, comprising a tubular fibre body of uniform cylindricalcontour having a straight uncurled upper edge, a metal'retaining ringadapted to be clamped into position on said body below its upper edgetoform ,a depressed seat 'in said body wall, and having a projectinghandle located beneath an end thereof, and a against the resistanceafforded by said supp rting wall, said depressed seat cooperating withthe cover flange to prevent relative'movement betwee'nthe body andcover, said retaining ring being also adapted upon removal from itsenclosed position within the body wallseat by pressure on its saidprojecting handle to outwardly bend said metal coverfiange to permitunrestricted removal of said cover member from said body and adapt theformer as a reclosure for said WILLIAM E. TAYLOR.

' metal cover member having a supporting wall I I

